Spence, K.,
2025 (Accepted for publication).
What is the future for Egypt's mud brick heritage
Egyptian Archaeology,
Research
My research focuses on the built environment and material culture of Ancient Egypt and Sudan. The majority of my work has dealt with New Kingdom Egyptian material, particularly that of the late Eighteenth Dynasty.
I am currently engaged in a field project at Sesebi, Northern Sudan, co-directed with Dr Pamela Rose of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Cairo. The site is a New Kingdom Egyptian colonial walled town with a large temple, housing a community dedicated at least in part to mining. I am also in the process of writing up fieldwork on the North Palace at Amarna.
My recent work at Amarna includes a heritage-oriented project Egypt Past and Present: Archaeological Heritage at Amarna that aims to facilitate cultural awareness and historical continuity for young audiences both in Egypt itself and internationally.
Key Publications
Key publications
|
[1] |
Spence K.E.(2010). Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture: Measurement and the spatial link with the 'other'. I. Morley and C. Renfrew (eds.), The Archaeology of Measurement: Comprehending Heaven, Earth and Time in Ancient Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 170-179. |
|
[2] |
Spence K.E.(2010). Settlement structure and social interaction at El-Amarna. M. Bietak, E. Czerny and I. Forstner-Müller (eds.), Cities and Urbanism in Egypt. Vienna: Wien, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. 289-298. |
|
[3] |
Spence K.E.(2009). The Palaces of el-Amarna: Towards an architectural analysis. R. Gundlach and J.H. Taylor (eds.), Egyptian Royal Residences. 4th Symposium on Egyptian Royal Ideology Egyptian Royal Residences. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. 165-187. |
|
[4] |
Spence K.E.(2008). Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut's foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri, T. Schneider and K. Szpakowska (eds.), Egyptian Stories: A British Egyptological Tribute to Alan B. Lloyd on the Occasion of His Retirement, Vol.347 (Alter Orient und Altes Testament.) Münster: Ugarit-Verlag. 353-372. |
Other publications
Articles & Chapters
|
[1] |
Spence K.E. and Rose P. (2014). Fieldwork at Sesebi 2010. J. Anderson and D. Welsby (eds.), The Fourth Cataract and Beyond Proceedings of the 12th International Conference for Nubian Studies. Leuven: Peeters Pub & Booksellers. 409-416. |
|
[2] |
Spence K.E., Rose P., Bradshaw P., Collet P., Hassan A., Magginnis J., Masson A. and van Pelt P. (2011). Sesebi 2011. Sudan and Nubia, 15, 34-38. |
|
[3] |
Spence K.E., Sulas F. and Wynne-Jones S. (2011). Introduction. African Archaeological Review |
|
[4] |
Spence K.E.(2010). The 'Hall of Foreign Tribute' (S39.2) at El-Amarna. S. Ikram and A. Dodson (eds.), Beyond the Horizon: Studies in Egyptian Art, Archaeology and History in Honour of Barry Kemp. Cairo: AUC. 497-504. |
|
[5] |
Spence K.E.(2009). New fieldwork at Sesebi. Egyptian Archaeology, 35, 21-24. |
|
[6] |
Spence K.E., Rose P., Bunbury J., Clapham A., Collet P., Smith G. and Soderberg N. (2009). Fieldwork at Sesebi 2009. Sudan and Nubia, 13, 38-47. |
|
[7] |
Spence K.E.(2007). A contextual approach to Ancient Egyptian domestic cult: The case of the ‘lustration slabs’ at el-Amarna. D.A. Barrowclough and C.A.T. Malone (eds.), Cult in Context: Reconsidering Ritual in Archaeology. Oxford: Oxbow. 283-290. |
|
[8] |
Spence K.E.(2007). Architecture. T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World. London: Routledge. 366-387. |
|
[9] |
Spence K.E.(2007). Court and palace in ancient Egypt: The Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty. A.J.S. Spawforth (ed.), The Court and Court Society in Ancient Monarchies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 267-328. |
|
[10] |
Spence K.E.(2004). Royal walling projects in the second millennium BC: Beyond an interpretation of defence. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 14, 259-288. DOI: 10.1017/S0959774304230165. |
|
[11] |
Spence K.E.(2004). Houses. B. Fagan (ed.), The Seventy Great Inventions of the Ancient World. London: Thames and Hudson. 61-65. |
|
[12] |
Spence K.E.(2004). The three-dimensional form of the Amarna house. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 90, 123-152. |
|
[13] |
Spence K.E.(2004). Stone architecture. B. Fagan (ed.), Seventy Great Inventions of the Ancient World. London: Thames and Hudson. 66-70. |
|
[14] |
Spence K.E.(2004). Early state and civilization. Antiquity, 78(302), 939-943. |
|
[15] |
Spence K.E.(2003). What became of Hatshepsut?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 118-121. |
|
[16] |
Spence K.E.(2003). What is a pyramid for?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 50-53. |
|
[17] |
Spence K.E.(2003). Are the pyramids aligned with the stars?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 71-73. |
|
[18] |
Spence K.E.(2002). Tomb raider: The inside story of Khufu’s pyramid. TES Teacher |
|
[19] |
Spence K.E.(2001). Monumental problems: Who built late Egyptian temples and why?. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 11, 284-287. DOI: 10.1017/S0959774301290167. |
|
[20] |
Spence K.E.(2001). Astronomical orientation of the pyramids. Nature, 412, 699-700. DOI: 10.1038/35089140. |
|
[21] |
Spence K.E.(2000). The amazing invisible walls. Nekhen News, 12, 24. |
|
[22] |
Spence K.E.(2000). Ancient Egyptian chronology and the astronomical orientation of pyramids. Nature, 408, 320-324. DOI: 10.1038/35042510. |
|
[23] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The Great Temple of Abu Simbel. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames & Hudson. 105-107. |
|
[24] |
Spence K.E.(1999). Egyptian Obelisks. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 263-266. |
|
[25] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The temples of Karnak. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 104. |
|
[26] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The pyramids at Giza. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 21-60. |
|
[27] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The Great Sphinx at Giza. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 258-62. |
|
[28] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The Colossi of western Thebes. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 267-270. |
|
[29] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The Valley of the Kings: The Tomb of Seti I. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 56-60. |
|
[30] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The Pharos of Alexandria. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 45-47. |
|
[31] |
Spence K.E.(1999). The North Palace at el-Amarna. Egyptian Archaeology, 15, 14-16. |
|
[32] |
Spence K.E., Gage J., Jones A., Bradley R., Barber E. and Taçon P. (1999). Red, white and black: Colour in building stone in Ancient Egypt. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 9, 114-117. |
Publication
Journal articles
2025 (Accepted for publication)
2025
Stevens, A., Dabbs, GR., Ricketts, SM., Spence, K., Clapham, A., Langley, MC., Thompson, K., Tully, G. and Stimpson, C.,
2025.
Tell el-Amarna, Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025
The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology,
v. 111
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1177/03075133251391817
2024
Spence, K.,
2024.
Barry John Kemp 1940–2024
The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology,
v. 110
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1177/03075133241300342
2011
Sulas, F., Wynne-Jones, S. and Spence, K.,
2011.
Africa’s Fragile Heritages: Introduction
African Archaeological Review,
v. 28
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-011-9091-7
Spence, KE., Rose, P., Bradshaw, P., Collet, P., Hassan, A., Magginnis, J., Masson, A. and van Pelt, P.,
2011.
Sesebi 2011
Sudan and Nubia,
v. 15
Spence, KE., Sulas, F. and Wynne-Jones, S.,
2011.
Introduction
African Archaeological Review,
v. Africa’s Fragile Heritages: Future Challenges
2009
Spence, KE., Rose, P., Bunbury, J., Clapham, A., Collet, P., Smith, G. and Soderberg, N.,
2009.
Fieldwork at Sesebi 2009
Sudan and Nubia,
v. 13
Spence, KE.,
2009.
New fieldwork at Sesebi
Egyptian Archaeology,
v. 35
2004
Spence, KE.,
2004.
The three-dimensional form of the Amarna house
Journal of Egyptian Archaeology,
v. 90
Spence, KE.,
2004.
Early state and civilization
Antiquity,
v. 78
Spence, KE.,
2004.
Royal walling projects in the second millennium BC: Beyond an interpretation of defence
Cambridge Archaeological Journal,
v. 14
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774304230165
2002
Spence, KE.,
2002.
Tomb raider: The inside story of Khufu’s pyramid
TES Teacher,
2001
Spence, KE.,
2001.
Astronomical orientation of the pyramids
Nature,
v. 412
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/35089140
Spence, KE.,
2001.
Monumental problems: Who built late Egyptian temples and why?
Cambridge Archaeological Journal,
v. 11
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774301290167
2000
Spence, KE.,
2000.
The amazing invisible walls
Nekhen News,
v. 12
Spence, KE.,
2000.
Ancient Egyptian chronology and the astronomical orientation of pyramids
Nature,
v. 408
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/35042510
1999
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The North Palace at el-Amarna
Egyptian Archaeology,
v. 15
Spence, KE., Gage, J., Jones, A., Bradley, R., Barber, E. and Taçon, P.,
1999.
Red, white and black: Colour in building stone in Ancient Egypt
Cambridge Archaeological Journal,
v. 9
Book chapters
2025
Spence, K., Stevens, A., Tully, G., Awad, F. and Kellawy, H.,
2025.
Community and Archaeology at Amarna: Exploring Sustainable Heritage Strategies for Rural Egypt
Doi: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003491071-11
2019
Spence, K.,
2019.
New Kingdom tombs in Lower and Upper Nubia
2018 (No publication date)
Spence, KE.,
2018 (No publication date).
New Kingdom tombs in Lower and Upper Nubia
2018
Spence, K., Laboury, D., Mora, P. and Vergnieux, R.,
2018.
New perspectives on the Gem-pa-Aten colossi (summary of talk)
Spence, K.,
2018.
The Main Temple at Sesebi: on the nature and reuse of early Amarna-period ritual architecture (summary of talk)
2017
Spence, KE.,
2017.
Sesebi before Akhenaten
2015
Spence, KE.,
2015.
Royal Power in New Kingdom Egypt: The Palaces and Gardens of Amarna.
Spence, KE.,
2015.
Ancient Egyptian Houses: architecture, conceptualization and interpretation
v. 10
2014
Spence, KE. and Rose, P.,
2014.
Fieldwork at Sesebi 2010
2011 (No publication date)
Spence, KE.,
2011 (No publication date).
Air, comfort and status: interpreting the domestic features of ‘soul houses’ from Rifa
2010
Spence, KE.,
2010.
Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture: Measurement and the spatial link with the 'other'
Spence, KE.,
2010.
Settlement structure and social interaction at El-Amarna
Spence, KE.,
2010.
The 'Hall of Foreign Tribute' (S39.2) at El-Amarna
2009
Spence, KE.,
2009.
The Palaces of el-Amarna: Towards an architectural analysis
2008
Spence, KE.,
2008.
Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut's foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri
v. 347
Spence, KE.,
2008.
Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut’s foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri
v. 347
2007
Spence, KE.,
2007.
Court and palace in ancient Egypt: The Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty
Spence, KE.,
2007.
A contextual approach to Ancient Egyptian domestic cult: The case of the ‘lustration slabs’ at el-Amarna
Spence, KE.,
2007.
Architecture
2004
Spence, KE.,
2004.
Stone architecture
Spence, KE.,
2004.
Houses
2003
Spence, KE.,
2003.
Are the pyramids aligned with the stars?
Spence, KE.,
2003.
What became of Hatshepsut?
Spence, KE.,
2003.
What is a pyramid for?
1999
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The Colossi of western Thebes
Spence, KE.,
1999.
Egyptian Obelisks
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The Great Sphinx at Giza
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The Pharos of Alexandria
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The pyramids at Giza
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The temples of Karnak
Spence, KE.,
1999.
The Valley of the Kings: The Tomb of Seti I
Reports
2020
Tully, G., Stevens, A., Kellawy, H., Spence, K., Kemp, B. and Reyad, FA.,
2020.
Tell el-Amarna Site Management Plan 2020
Conference proceedings
2009
Spence, KE.,
2009.
The Palaces of el-Amarna: towards an architectural analysis
Königtum, Staat und Gesellschaft Früher Hochkulturen,
v. 1
Internet publications
2008
Spence, KE.,
2008.
Sesebi
Other publications
2002
Spence, KE.,
2002.
Akhenaten and the Amarna period
Teaching and Supervisions
Research supervision
Current Students:
Pedro Goncalves
Ana Tavares
Past Students:
Jenna Spellane
Paul Van Pelt
Sarah Strange
Kelly Accetta
